Aromatic Whites

Reading time: 5 mins

Aromatic whites are intensely flavoured, un-oaked whites from aromatic grapes like Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Gewurztraminer, Viognier,  Albarino, and most new world Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.

These wines will typically smell like flowers or taste like a bowl of fresh fruit.  Look for aromas and flavours of orange peel, ripe peaches, papaya, mango, lychee, rose petal, dried apricots, passionfruit, or dried apricots.  Some will have a herbal note or white pepper spiciness or minerally accents. These wines display a lot of natural aromas and flavours from the grapes rather than from oak or wine-making practices. Flavour intensity ranges from medium to full-in-your-face intense. 

These wines are delicious on their own but also have the ability to pair nicely with some of the most difficult foods such as spicy Asian or Middle Eastern Dishes.

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Germany and Austria excel at Aromatic wines. France does to, particularly from the fairly warm, dry climates - Southern France and Alsace. Italy's Aromatics are among the most reserved of this style with Italian winemakers preferring more reserved, neutral aromas and flavours. Australia's most renown example of this style would have to be Clare Valley Rieslings. New Zealand of course excels in this style and most of our Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Rieslings fit the category perfectly.